[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 121 (Friday, June 21, 1996)] [Notices] [Page 31939] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-15888] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-5524-1] Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board; Meeting Date and Agenda AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency. ACTION: Notice of open meeting. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB) will convene an open meeting on Sunday, July 21, 1996, from noon to 5:00 p.m. The meeting immediately precedes the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Conference (NELAC), and will be held in the same location: the Washington Hilton and Towers, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20009; Telephone 202/797-5820. One item on the agenda will be a report from the subcommittee charged with reviewing the issues surrounding Good Laboratory Practices (GLP), a program operated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The committee is identifying the unique characteristics of the GLP program and evaluating the relationship with NELAC. A second agenda item is a deliberation on the status of the NELAC General Members Committee. A report on the authorized functions and the legal limitations of the General Members Committee and the role of ELAB will precede the discussion. A third potential agenda item is the scope of accreditation, with specific attention given to non-commercial environmental laboratories. The regulated industries have expressed concern regarding requirements to inspect ``in-house'' laboratories which generate data to demonstrate compliance with EPA regulations. The fourth agenda item, which shall constitute the majority of the discussion, will be on proficiency testing (PT) samples, otherwise known as performance evaluation (PE) samples. Changes in EPA's current system of manufacturing and distributing PT samples are under consideration. Included in the options are operation by the private sector, another government body, the states, and/or non-profit organizations. The discussion will be directed towards national consistency and quality of the samples, overall costs, impact on the state accrediting authorities, and the time needed to implement any change. Advice and comments will be solicited from ELAB regarding the potential consequences to the proposed NELAC structure and operation. The public is welcome to attend. Time will be allotted for public comment. Written comments are encouraged and should be directed to Ms. Jeanne Mourrain, Designated Federal Official; USEPA, NERL (MD-75); Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. If questions arise, please contact Ms. Mourrain at 919/541-1120, fax 919/541-4101, or E-mail ``MOURRAIN.JEANNE@EPAMAIL. EPA.GOV''. Dated: June 14, 1996. E. Ramona Trovato, Director, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. [FR Doc. 96-15888 Filed 6-20-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P